The northern lights put on a spectacular display across much of the United States on Thursday, and they could make another appearance on Friday night. The aurora borealis was visible as far south as Florida, with pictures capturing the sky illuminated in vibrant red and purple hues, even in bright urban areas like New York City and Chicago.
Although the powerful geomagnetic storm responsible for this stunning sight has diminished, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicates that some regions in the U.S. may still experience the northern lights tonight.
According to NOAA’s aurora forecast, the northern lights are expected to be visible in parts of the northern U.S. Much of Canada and Alaska will have clearer views, while specific areas, such as Idaho, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, might also see the spectacle on Friday night. In the East, northern New York and parts of Vermont and New Hampshire could catch a glimpse, with some areas in Maine also potentially witnessing the lights.
The best time to view the northern lights is shortly after sunset or just before sunrise, as they are not visible during daylight hours. Dark, clear skies free from light pollution offer the ideal viewing conditions.
The recent visibility of the northern lights has been attributed to heightened solar activity over the past few months, marked by a series of coronal mass ejections from the sun. This surge in activity has led to multiple auroral displays. Although the geomagnetic storm that produced Thursday’s vibrant skies is subsiding, experts believe more opportunities to see the lights may arise in the future.
Shawn Dahl from the Space Weather Prediction Center explained that the current intensity of the northern lights is linked to the sun’s position in its 11-year solar cycle, currently experiencing solar maximum. He noted that the sun’s complex magnetic fields contribute to various space weather storms.
The northern lights occur due to interactions between solar winds from the sun and the Earth’s magnetic field, resulting in geomagnetic storms and increased activity. When geomagnetic activity is high, the chances of seeing the aurora improve, leading to brighter displays that can be observed further from the poles. Even moderate solar winds can produce auroras, although they are typically more noticeable near the poles, with the phenomenon referred to as northern lights in the Arctic and southern lights in the Antarctic.